Insight - Teenagers have their perks - By Michelle Libby

In the past two weeks I have had the opportunity to spend a little time with younger children. Sometimes I get too wrapped up in homework, college applications, grades, dates, work to remember what it was like when my children were younger, a lot younger. 
 

A great group of first graders.

Two weeks ago, Cub Scout Pack 805’s tiger scouts came to The Windham Eagle to visit and see how a newspaper is created. Since most of it is done on the computers, it’s not as exciting for first graders. So, I drew pictures of the process. 

Needless to say, it didn’t go well for my pictures. (The staff around here told me it wouldn’t.) The boys were excited and loud and moving them through the building was a bit like trying to keep water in a balloon without it bursting. Don’t get me wrong, they were great, just not teenagers. 

Oh. My. Goodness. Did I just say something was better than a teenager? Yup. 

I remember fondly my now teenage daughter dancing at church whenever the organ played. I remember my son waiting for the eating part or the parade during the service. They were so cute. On Sunday, I watched one mom run up and down the aisles chasing her toddler. Who knew church was such a workout? Then another mom whisked her child out the back with the kid shrieking at the top of her lungs. I couldn’t suppress the giggle that escaped from me. When my children were that small, I worried about disturbing the other parishioners too, but there was one minister who always made a point to say, “I love to hear the voices of our youth. That’s the spirit of God moving in them.” That’s why it never bothers me when children are children. 

I’m just glad I’m not the one chasing them or saying “shhh”. 

Teenagers can be a pain sometimes. All ages have their own challenges from infants who don’t sleep to young adults who still need their parents to help them when choosing a new car or choosing a college.

Letting children explore their world or test their voices is the way parents are creating people who will grow up to be interested in the world, engaged in activities and will make a difference in our society. 

Go parents.